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Author Topic: Fell on garbage bags in street - Should I get tested?  (Read 4344 times)

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Offline AldousOrwell

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Fell on garbage bags in street - Should I get tested?
« on: July 26, 2006, 11:23:31 am »
Hi Aldous here. I've been posting on here for about two weeks. It's been interesting and informative.

Not sure if this should go in the 'Living With Forum' but I'm taking the view of a young drunk woman in Camden Town London, last night at 2 am. She may be looking for info under 'Am I Infected'. Even though I'm positive I feel it is more use going here.

Picture the scene. Me and my Spanish friend I know thru poz support group Str8Talk, were piling out of the Dublin Castle pub after a getting a skinful. It was full of hip young trendy indie crowd punters who had just watched a new band called 'The Stations' ( Not bad angular Post-Britpop crossed between Muse and Feeder).

As we strolled/staggered down Parkway we happened upon a strange forlorn sight. A smartly dressed Medja type woman aged about 24, was lying fully reclined back on a pile of full black bin liners. About a dozen in total, and awaiting collection on a street corner against a lamp post. She was off her tits and her boyfriend was looking on laughing at her predicament, on what looked like a reasonably comfortable bed. They were dry and securely tied closed. But bursting at the seams under her size 12 body.

As I drew level I quipped laconically "You might want to watch out for used junkie's needles" and did not even break my stride. My poz Spanish friend did not know whether to laugh at this black humour or applaud me for raising awareness about a theoretical risk of catching Hep C or even , but  medically thought less likely, HIV. A negative person may well have punched me for scaremongering.

Central London's Camden Borough and the Town area itself has a high IV drug user population, I should add. It is well known that many still dispose of old needles in this way, despite an ignorant assumption that after mainlining smack they are copus mentus enough to return used needles to the exchange clinic. Not sure the ratio maybe one in seven addicts are poz but this is rising as awareness of HIV fades. You should see my nearest but thankfully little used train station. I used to arrive at 8.25 am to read the various addicts initials dribbled in blood on the stairs and platform. And needles sometimes on the stairs but mainly on the tracks. I shudder to think how mums with a pram and hyperactive toddler might cope. A Belgium film crew filmed it in around 1999, for a piece called 'Is this the world's worse train station?'

There was also a case of a white Met Policeman picking up a cheeky Pakistani 12 year old and placing him in a street bin a few months back, more as a joke than anything else. It was on the news as the boy's friend videoed it on his phone.  The boy's father was most angry that he was not being taken seriously and raised the issue of carelessly disposed of needles. I'm not sure what compensation was offered but the policeman's car licence plate was also filmed. I think he got a short suspension. 

Anyway, we both looked back over our shoulders having gone about 2 more paces as we heard an almighty shriek of " HELP GET ME UP OUTTAHERE YOU BASTARD!!!, HURRY HURRY" As my poz world and there 'Ignorance is bliss' neg world momentarily collided. Call it a wake up call. She was sling-shotted off the pile as though it were a hot as molten lava,  mountain of vomit. Her arm almost getting dislocated as her now shit-scared and sheepishly guilty boyfriend yanked her up to her feet.

I have no idea if there were needles in the bags. Thinking about it I think it was mainly cafe or sushi bar rubbish after a brisk hot summer night's trade. Lots of empty styrofoam cups etc. But it just made me realise that people can't always be relied upon to make common sense decisions. Clearly my worries had not even entered their, from all appearances, educated if over-coiffured heads. I guess it is the same when they meet a new partner, particularly as they were both straight and white and therefore not a targeted high risk group in need of screening.


So even if you did get a jab in the arse you are probably OK. Still the advice is get tested once a year unless you and your boyfriend have been 100% faithful and always used condoms. But who is ? And how many do?

An interesting epilogue to this bizarre 'nighthawk' experience in ultra trendy Camden was our next encounter. We were now on Camden High Street a minute or two later when a wizzened husk of a woman, probably a size 2 approached us with the opening line of " I'm not begging". She was clearly a herion addict and appeared to be dealing to fund her seemingly now out of control habit. She looked 50 but was probably 35 if a day. My Spaniard friend turned his well healed but needle tracked arms outward and said " You can't fool me I know what you are doing". We suggested she get help and told her to get tested as she did not look like she would last the summer let alone winter. We then told her how we knew each other thru Str8Talk and gave her two quid.

The two incidents brought home the fact that we live in an increasingly two tiered society. In many ways.

I feel many poz people feel consigned to a neatly trussed up pile of garbage. The powers that be think they have dealt with the problem.

Aldous




« Last Edit: July 26, 2006, 12:49:11 pm by AldousOrwell »

Offline ACinKC

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Re: Fell on garbage bags in street - Should I get tested?
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2006, 11:46:33 am »
Gotta keep stirring the pot I see.
LIFE is not a race to the grave with the intention of arriving safely
in a pretty and well-preserved body, but, rather to skid in broadside,
thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW! WHAT A
RIDE!!!

Offline AldousOrwell

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  • Posts: 63
Re: Fell on garbage bags in street - Should I get tested?
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2006, 11:49:43 am »
I'm not making this up. If I had not gone out last night I would not have posted this.

What is your point exactly? What is wrong with making people, all people aware of the dangers. They really think HIV has gone away.

Aldous

Offline RapidRod

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Re: Fell on garbage bags in street - Should I get tested?
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2006, 12:46:01 pm »
You have way to much time on your hands and your little story should not have been posted here.

Offline Andy Velez

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Re: Fell on garbage bags in street - Should I get tested?
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2006, 01:06:27 pm »
Aldous, I agree with the evaluations made by others here previously.

As you have in your previous threads, you express surprise and pique when you get reactions which question your judgement and motives.

This is a section in which people come who are already worried about their HIV status. They do not need you arbitrarily choosing to bring up some possible risk because you've decided to be an HIV Paul Revere riding around announcing possible risks.

I know you probably won't get what I am saying but nevertheless I'm locking this thread in the hope that it just dies away. Quickly.

You're pretty new to this site. Rather than you assuming the role of an unofficial teacher here I suggest that for the timebeing you stick to asking questions or discussing issues which are immediately relevant to you in the LIVING WITH section.

Doing that may help you to get a better lay of the land here.
« Last Edit: July 26, 2006, 01:11:22 pm by Andy Velez »
Andy Velez

 


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